Abstract: A chamfer is formed in bearing blocks on either side of the hydraulic fluid inlet. The chamfer allows a family of pumps with varying hydraulic inlet sizes to have similar bearing block pressure profiles. The chamfer prevents the build up of hydraulic pressure immediately adjacent to the hydraulic inlet below a given inlet size so that the bearing block pressure profile for a family of pumps with different inlet sizes more nearly matches the pressure profile of the largest opening used in a particular design family. The sealing gasket on the side of the bearing block opposite the gears is designed to accommodate this single pressure profile. The result is an improved bearing life and reduced slippage over an entire family of pumps or motors of similar design.

Abstract: The people and things in the vicinity of an undiapered baby are protected from being urinated upon by a device which has an open resilient foam band, which is “C” or horseshoe shaped. The band has a curved front segment with two rearwardly extending side segments which allow the band to be resiliently clasped about the midsection of an infant. A urine receiving pad is connected to the front segment of the band, and extends downwardly to space a quantity of absorbent material from the infant. The pad has an exterior fluid impervious barrier to which a cotton or synthetic absorbent material is attached. The lower comers of the pad are turned up to define an upwardly opening pocket which better retains liquid. The shield is readily affixed to the infant prior to removal of the diaper, and throughout the period during which urination of the undiapered infant is likely.

Abstract: A tent having the overall appearance and shape of a NASCAR vehicle has fabric suspended between two sections of flexible pipe manufactured from PVC or fiberglass. The flexible tube sections cross forming two gentle smooth curves which when viewed from above form a flattened X. The bottom panel of the tent is a rectangle which has two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides and which may be staked to the ground. Two sides extend upwardly from the two long sides of the rectangle, and have the appearance of the sides of an automobile. The front bumper, the hood, the front windshield, the car top, the back window, rear spoiler and the rear bumper are formed by a panel which is joined to the tent bottom and the tent sides having printed indicia thereon representative of the various automotive parts. The driver's side of the car has a door formed by a zipper. A screen flap within the door forms an inner screen door.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beginning the formation of a paper web on a traveling forming wire, or between a pair of converging forming wires, includes a headbox on a papermaking machine for projecting a stock stream onto the forming wire, or between the forming wires over the porous face surface of a forming shoe. The forming wire or wires are looped to travel in a continuous path, and within at least one of the looped forming wires is the forming shoe, which is porous by way of grooves or openings over at least a portion of its face surface. The grooves are in the surface of the forming shoe which engages the inner surface of the looped forming wire to define a portion of the path of travel of the forming wire adjacent the headbox from which the stock stream is projected onto, or between, the forming wire(s). The grooves extend in the surface facing the forming wire from a point downstream of the leading edge in the nose portion of the face surface of forming shoe in the direction of forming wire travel.

Abstract: A mechanical testing device has a rigid frame and a piezo translator connected to the frame. A Wheatstone bridge is connected to the translator to produce an electrical signal related to the compression of the translator, wherein a sample positioned between the piezo translator and the frame is subjected to loads by the movement of the translator. A sensor detects the force applied to the sample by the piezo translator, and produces a signal indicative of the force. A computer receives the Wheatstone bridge electrical signal and the signal indicative of the force applied to the sample. The computer controls the advancement of the translator to allow the application of precise amounts of compression to the sample.

Abstract: A firefighting monitor having an acceleration sensitive shut off valve that responds to acceleration of the monitor to reduce water flow through the monitor. The acceleration sensitive shut off valve is self-contained and requires no contact with an external surface or device. The valve closing speed may be modulated by a dampener device that slows the rate at which the valve closes to avoid damage from water hammer.

Abstract: A livestock sorting system that uses an activity-based controller for receiving sort signals, opening a sort gate in response to each of said signals, and closing the sort gate only when no sort signals are pending.

Abstract: There is disclosed a glass repair fixture including a mount, a leg, and a chamber, such that the leg is rotatable around the mount that decreases set up time and manufacturing cost, and improves a resulting glass repair.

Abstract: A hanging clamshell package has a thermoformed plastic blister with a cover pivotally connected by a hinge to a base. The cover has a curved rearwardly opening front wall. A product bubble protrudes frontwardly from the cover front wall and has a curved front face. A bubble top wall extends between the cover front wall and the bubble front face, and beneath the bubble top wall, a bubble bottom wall extends between the cover front wall and the bubble front face, the forward extension of the bubble top wall is less than the forward extension of the bubble bottom wall, tending to counteract the visual impact of product settling. The base has a curved rearwardly opening base front wall of approximately the same curvature as the cover front wall. A card is clasped between the cover front wall and the base front and is thereby conformed to a curvature approximately matching that of the cover front wall.

Abstract: A traffic information system for predicting travel times utilizes Internet based collecting and disseminating of information. The system accounts for vehicle type, driver specific disposition, and its predictions of future traffic account for the effects of predictable events, particularly weather, on traffic patterns. The traffic information system includes a computer model of a transportation route map, the route map having a multiplicity of possible destinations points connected by route segments. An equation is developed for each route segment, the equation incorporating variables and constants which relate to the fixed and variable parameters which are indicative of the time it will take to travel along a particular route segment. Predicted travel time along the route segment can be improved over historical data for a time in the future for which there are reasonably accurate weather predictions.

Abstract: A multipurpose tool for use by firefighters and emergency personnel. The tool including a spanner wrench claw for turning firefighting hose connections, a wrench slot for turning natural gas valves, a glass-breaking spike, an open slot cutter for cutting seat belts and the like, and a foldable handle having an end shaped to be used as a pry bar.

Abstract: A pressurized box is positioned opposite a vacuum box. The pressurized box has a leading cross machine direction baffle with a ceramic shoe which engages a forming fabric, and a trailing cross machine direction baffle of similar construction. Two end deckles complete the pressurized box. The leading cross machine direction baffle presses against a resilient seal which causes a web contained between upper and lower forming fabrics to wrap about the baffle shoe a few degrees forming an effective end seal which does not allow air to bypass the baffle. The trailing cross machine direction baffle is positioned over a vacuum box which prevents air from leaking around the trailing baffle. A vacuum box draws air through the forming fabrics and the web, from the pressurized box increasing the total pressure gradient across the web to 20 to 30 psi or more. The pressure box and opposed vacuum box form an air press. The pressure box is positioned and held against the forming fabrics by opposing air tubes.

Abstract: A pivoting joint with a ball and socket joined by trunnions for use in fluid conduits, particularly firefighting devices such as portable monitors and the like. The pivoting joint can be used on an inlet of the device to provide a pivoting motion for one or more inlet hoses, and/or on the outlet of the device to direct the discharge in one or more directions. An optional one-way brake can be used to limit unintended movement about one or more axis of motion.

Abstract: A central steel column serves as a core module for a portable washstand. The column extends upwardly from a horizontal foot, and has foot pumps which communicate with a water intake tube and with water spigots. In addition, the central column has fasteners, such as adjustable bands, for connecting fresh and waste water receptacles to the column. The receptacles may be conventional cylindrical drums, which support a molded plastic countertop with washbasins positioned beneath the spigots. For decorative purposes, a molded front panel extends between the countertop and the base, and together with a sheet rear panel encloses the two drums. Paper towel and soap dispensers may be connected to the central column.

Abstract: A body electrode and connector for a fetal electrode has an electrically insulated substrate with an electrical contact strip on the lower surface and two electrical contact strips on the upper surface. An electrically conductive hydrogel layer extends beneath the lower contact strip and adheres to the mother's skin and makes electrical contact with the lower strip, forming a body electrode. Two parallel, but non-engaging, regions of electrically conductive adhesive are disposed over the two upper surface contact strips. The adhesive regions are, in turn, covered by resilient foam strips. Prior to use, the front portions of the electrically conductive adhesive regions are kept from adhesive engagement with the foam strips by removable release liners. The device is deployed by removing a hydrogel-covering release liner and attaching the device to the inner thigh or lower abdomen of the mother.

Abstract: A metal deck is received on the front and rear beams of a conventional rack system and is specially configured to receive a conventional nine leg plastic pallet. Weight and cost efficiency in the deck is achieved by concentrating the deck mass in those segments of the deck which make contact with the legs of the plastic pallet, and more particularly by recognizing that the center row of pallet legs carries a greater fraction of the pallet load then each of the outside rows of pallet legs. Closely spaced parallel front to back wire sections define pallet leg row support segments for the three rows of posts or legs of a plastic pallet, distributing the load of each leg over multiple wire segments. Front to back wires with an upwardly opening v-section are connected by struts to the wires within each support segment. Thus a single truss is formed as a part of each side support segment, and two trusses are formed as a part of the center support segment.

Abstract: A molded plastic collection bin with transparent front and rear panels receives entry blanks introduced through a slot in a covering counter. The collection bin is supported on two side frames which are formed of tubular aluminum with riveted plastic sheets. Front and rear plastic panels extend between the two side frames and are engaged on protruding fasteners. The counter, the side frames, and the collection bin each have aligned holes which receive two connecting carriage bolts. A bungee cord resiliently extends between the carriage bolts within the collection bin, retaining the assembly in a connected orientation. An information display has a metal frame with retractable threaded tubes which engage with the counter. Printed elements such as posters are clasped between plastic sheets and engaged with C-channels on the frame. A bent metal door selectively covers an access opening in the rear plastic wall of the collection bin.

Abstract: A series of regularly spaced cylindrical paddles are affixed to a steel strand cable. Each end of the cable is provided with a swaged ball shank which is pivotably received within a nut. The threaded nuts are connected by a threaded screw. The paddles are advanced on the cable through a conduit by a rotatable drive wheel. The system is thus adapted for moving ice cubes and chips. The drive wheel has eight teeth, each of which has a connector trough dimensioned to receive the connector assembly. Each tooth has a leading finger with a drive face which engages a paddle when it is received within a paddle trough defined between neighboring teeth. The drive face has a radially extending wall which engages the disk of the paddle, and a second radially extending wall spaced outwardly from the first which engages the protruding shoulder of the disk, such that the disks are always driven at two spaced locations.